Priyanka may contest from Amethi
R R Nair in New Delhi
Priyanka Vadera may contest the general election from Amethi, her late father Rajiv Gandhi's constituency.
It is learnt that 10 Janpath and the Gandhis's friends are seriously thinking of fielding Priyanka from Amethi which was one of the five seats won by the Congress in the 1996 general election in Uttar Pradesh.
After Rajiv Gandhi's assassination, former Union minister Captain Satish Sharma successfully contested the Amethi seat, first in the by-election and then in 1996.
Amethi has a long history of association with the Gandhi family. Late Sanjay Gandhi, Rajiv's younger brother, had also contested from the constituency twice. So did Rajiv.
In fact, the biggest cheers for Sonia came from Amethi Congress workers who wanted her to contest from the constituency, which was very well nursed by her husband.
Priyanka's appearance along with her mother in the Sriperumbudur rally on January 11, which kicked off Sonia's campaign for the Congress, had given rise to speculation about her entering the contest.
Since Sonia's entry into active politics, the political equation between the Congress and other parties had changed considerably.
Union Defence Minister and Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav had, while announcing the SP's first list of 25 candidates, showered praise on the Gandhi family. He described former prime minister Indira Gandhi and her son Rajiv as great martyrs.
Mulayam Singh's praise is seen as a sign of a tacit understanding between his party and the Congress in Uttar Pradesh.
SP sources reveal that they might have some sort of adjustment with the Congress in five to six seats in Uttar Pradesh. These could include Amethi and Uttar Pradesh Congress unit president and former Union minister Narain Dutt Tiwari's constituency Nainital.
Mulayam Singh, on January 15, announced his party's candidate against Congress vice-president Jitendra Prasada.
He had also talked about putting up candidates from Amethi and Rae Bareli even if Sonia and Priyanka were to contest.
He, however, indicated that he would change his mind as he had a very high regard for Rajiv's widow. "Let Soniaji first ask for my support."
Indicating that Priyanka may contest from Amethi, Mulayam Singh's spokesman and SP national general secretary Amar Singh told Rediff On The NeT, "We wouldn't give the Congress any seats. In fact, we have a very good candidate in Nainital."
He scotched the rumour that Mulayam Singh had met Sonia recently, saying that the last time they met was at a public function at the naval chief's reception last month.
The SP already has a seat adjustment with the Congress in Maharashtra. Amar Singh said this arrangement would be confined to Maharashtra.
Mulayam Singh's attempt to play the big brother in Uttar Pradesh earlier drew flak from Janata Dal leaders like Ram Vilas Paswan.
After the unilateral announcement of the first SP list, comprising 25 candidates for UP, Mulayam Singh has crossed swords with the rest of the United Front parties who had asked Communist Party of India-Marxist general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet to resolve the seat-sharing wrangles.
EARLIER REPORT:
Surjeet to mediate between JD, SP
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